The new structure for this poem came out of the Arvon residential I attended in November 2012. I think it rather effective and would value your comments. It’s also posted to dVerse poets tonight as it’s about new beginnings, just right for the New Year.

64 thoughts on “Ten Pound Poms”

i love the discovery spirit in this…i think it must have been frightening in a way but also beautifully exciting and adventurous…had the opportunity to spend a month in sydney on work and met lots of people who told me the stories about how their ancestors moved to australia.. a perfect new years post as well…let’s go and discover that new land 2013…smiles.. happy new year

I enjoyed this. The lure of a new beginning is often very attractive. I forget this happened in Australia so recently. Your poem makes me want to read a novel about that period in Australian history. Interestingly, in my blog today I have a photo of Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge. Let me know if you can suggest a novel.

you make it sound so mysterious and inviting…as i imagine it was for those off to find that new place…what an adventure the age of discovery was….if i was to change times i think that is when i would love to go…hard life, but worked for and lived…

How great to have a comment from Australia ~ there’s nostalgia for sure, as you say, so many people took that adventure and helped make Australia what it is today ~ so pleased you like the structure of the poem.

Love this piece – the fragmented lines create an interesting juxtaposition to the theme.

It’s one of those things – my mother just received an e-mail out of the blue from the library in Freemantle saying they had a family bible in their collection that may have belonged to a relation. No-one could find this person, and it had taken some detective work on behalf of the librarian. New face, without a trace… indeed.

Great wonderings of the motives, the feelings and complications of a migration. I think the rhyme matched to content perfectly and made the read entertaining.

I don’t like the title because it is a puzzle (well, to me) and I like titles that are friendly — that offer a kind start on a journey — some orientation. I don’t enjoy poem titles that you have to look back and re-read to understand AFTER you read the poem.

Writers try to be cute or allusive in their titles to sneak in an element of depth — I think it is the wrong place to do that. Yours doesn’t do that, I think you are trying to be funny.

I felt you captured the real sense of the yearning well here, Polly, and even though there were quite few abstract nouns, and less of your typically playful verse, it all pulled together rather well I thought.

Ach … we’re all learning ~ the day I don’t learn anything is the day I’ll know I’m ready for the next place …

On another note ~ I read my Pantoum: Trust tonight at a spoken word event and it went down really well, I was so pleased. I’d worked hard on that poem. As you’ll know Pantoum’s are not easy, so it was great that people responded to it so favourably. I’m planning to perform it at the next two events, that’s a mark of how delighted I was with it tonight :) You might remember it, Andy, you said ‘… the content has a here and now quality, with the participants on the edge of something …’ and the audience tonight seemed to agree :)

‘Ach … we’re all learning ~ the day I don’t learn anything is the day I’ll know I’m ready for the next place … ‘

That sums it up. But can I just add that those who are willing to post or perform their material whatever stage it’s at should get bonus points for courage? My roots are in punk rock (Pistols, Clash et al), and those guys really blew away the cobwebs for ordinary folk like me who got inspired. And I still get inspired now by the terrific stuff all around us on the web, It’s really quite an incredible time to be alive in many ways, despite all the negative stuff going on globally. I’ll stop gushing now . . .

It’s a real buzz to get up there and read, nerve-racking, but ace ~ we’re lucky in Worcester, there is a great writerly community (literary is probably the word I should use, but hey @$%&**) you should come see Parole Parlate or 42 sometime, Andy. Do you perform your work anywhere?

I worked hard to capture that sense of anticipation / excitement / apprehension, so I’m glad it works for you, Roland. I think just one Australian guest has commented, which was a lovely surprise. Comments from all over the world though, especially USA. Lot’s of people would love to visit Aus, including me :) one day :)